Pirelli Motorcycle Tire of North America has announced that Innovative Motorcycle Research – the company’s official distributor for road racing tyres in the North East USA – will expand its road race distribution region to the 21 states on the US East Coast. The company will work in partnership with four sub-vendors in the 2009 racing season.
American Tire Distributors announced on Friday afternoon that it has purchased Simi Valley, California-based Am-Pac Tire Distributors. Am-Pac is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Itochu Corp. Terms of the deal were not announced. Both Am-Pac and ATD are member distributors of American Car Care Centers; it is not know what this deal will mean to the structure of the 1,100-dealer marketing group. ATD became an ACCC member distributor in September 2004 with its purchase of then ACCC member Target Tire.
Am-Pac also runs its own Tire Pros associate dealer program, which has approximately 300 member dealers. Some 90 of those member dealers are affiliated wholesalers for Am-Pac. The deal gives ATD some 100 distributor centers across 36 states, adding to its already vast distribution empire.
“By combining the resources of these two organizations, American Tire Distributors will be better positioned to service our customers,” said Dick Johnson, ATD chairman and CEO. “We will have an unmatched breadth and depth of product, a strong offering of dealer marketing programs, and a distribution network that is without equal in our industry. All of these attributes will make us a better distribution partner for our dealers.” (Tire Review/Akron)
The 2008 motorsport season for Yokohama HPT, the UK distributor for the Japanese brand, culminated in style this December. Hot on the heels of Yokohama-shod Tom Cave winning his class on Wales Rally GB, the some of the world’s leading motorsport drivers competed in the annual Race of Champions at Wembley stadium, driving, among other vehicles, the Yokohama-equipped RX150s built by Rage Motorsport.
The Race of Champions has become something of an institution as far as the motorsport season goes, traditionally closing the year’s activities by pitting a variety of drivers from all forms of motorsport against each other in a range of vehicles. In addition to crowning the champion of champions, the event also sees a Nations Cup being fought out over the circuit, with drivers from different disciplines but the same country competing side by side.
The introduction of a law compelling motorists in Canada’s Quebec province to fit winter tyres has not been a smooth ride. First tyre retailers across the nation reported a shortage of the seasonal product as ‘Quebecers’ scrambled to tog their vehicles out in the right rubber for the weather, then regional media sources began reporting sporadic winter tyre thefts, some thought to be the work of ‘organised’ crime cartels. Now it appears that those who see the lighter side of Canada – the creators of the ‘South Park’ television series are two shining examples – have been handed additional ammunition to use against the North American nation: Many in Quebec have discovered they haven’t a convenient nook and nary a spare cranny in which to store their off-season set of tyres.
Vintage Tyres has added a new member of staff to its expanding export department. Muriel Colange has a long history on the European classic car scene, having worked for various specialist parts distributors across France, as well as spending time working for a Lotus car distributor, where she participated as an active member of its racing team.
As befits the staff of the company, which supplies specialist tyres to classic cars, Colange possesses a great interest in and passion for cars. She has two early-model Minis and is president of the French Mini Owners Club. With a diploma in automotive commerce and marketing, she will specialise in the European development of the Vintage name. Vintage is based at The National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire.
Manbat Batteries, the UK’s largest battery distributor, has launched its revamped website, which hopes to provide users with more information and greater ease-of-use. As well as the customary information regarding Manbat’s trading history and locations, the website provides the latest news, developments and products for the trade and consumer alike.
Goodyear Jamaica Limited has decided to call it quits after some 40 years. Tropical Battery, whom the Goodyear subsidiary appointed Jamaican distributor of the brand in August, will continue in this role following the wind up of the national operation.
Big Wheel OTR (BWOTR) is laying claim to being the world’s first retreader to successfully pre-cure retread 4000R57-sized OTR tyres. “We take great pride in the appearance and quality of our pre-cured retread, because it speaks of the expert skill and infinite care we take in ensuring that these liners perform as promised”, declared managing director Albert Ngok.
BWOTR’s successful retreading of 4000R57-sized OTR tyre reflects the company’s determination to provide solutions to large OTR tyre shortage. To gauge the tyres performance, BWOTR enlisted the help of its Australian distributor, Earthmover Tyres International (Earthmover).
Unipart Automotive has invested £1 million in a new branch and Area Distribution Centre (ADC) in Solihull, creating 20 new jobs. Allan McNish, 2008 Le Mans 24hr race winner, officially opened the new 14,000 sq ft Birmingham South branch on Wednesday 19 November 2008.
This major investment by the motor parts distributor will enable it to better service the needs of motor trade customers, with access to over 25,000 product lines giving excellent off-the-shelf availability. A delivery service from the largest fleet in Birmingham, comprising 27 Unipart vans, will provide fast local delivery.
Following the recent launch of its Monityre tyre pressure monitoring system in the UK, manufacturer Safe Europe plc is now looking to develop a network of the distributors and agents across Europe. After attending several key European trade exhibitions, Safe Europe plc reports several interested parties are considering distributor status in both Germany and the Benelux countries.
According to Paul Marriott, Operations Director at Safe Europe plc, “the proven benefits of Monityre, in terms of improved fuel economy and its green credentials, are equally as important to operators across Europe as well as here in the UK. Already we have attracted interest in our product from certain European countries and we are now a position to make further ongoing distributor appointments throughout Europe.”
Kumho has returned to the Nigerian market following the naming of a new national distributor. Super Tyres and Motor Limited have been appointed to the role, reports Koh Bongyoon, Kumho’s international marketing manager, Africa operations. At a media briefing in Lagos, Super Tyres and Motor brand manager Aloke Sharma said the company aimed to position Kumho above competition in the premium segment.
According to Aloke, Super Tyres and Motors plans to hold at least 20 per cent market share for passenger car tyres within the first six months of Kumho tyre sales. The company is also the sole Nigerian distributor for GT Radial, Vikrant, DoubleCoin, BKT and Techking.
Sole UK distributor of General Tire, Micheldever Southam Tyres, has added 255/60 to its list of 18-inch Grabber UHP fitments. The 255/60 R18 Grabber UHP is an application for Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Isuzu Rodeo and Mitsubishi L200 vehicles.
UK Batteries reports having fully embraced the new ‘REACH legislation’ that came in to effect on September 1, 2008 and requires battery producers and distributors at different levels in the supply chain to meet strict labelling criteria that ensures customers are not mislead. Specifically, the REACH legislation requires all battery products to display a specification label that generally relates to the CCA (starting power) and the Ampere Hour (durability) of the unit. All batteries sold after September 1 must display the correct label, and UK Batteries, said to be the UK’s fastest-growing independent distributor, says it is proud that all of its products are now fully REACH compliant.
Universal Tyres Autocentres Ltd has opened a new retail branch in Thurrock (680 London Road, West Thurrock, RM20 3LX) and redeveloped its Greenwich outlet on Blackwall Lane, Greenwich. The new Thurrock store is directly opposite West Thurrock’s famous QEII bridge and is a purpose built autocare facility, employing three fitters.
Store manager Kevin McGill, revealed the secret to the company’s success: “We are a small, but highly skilled team here at universal. Between us we have over 35 years experience in the automotive trade. We have built up an exhaustive knowledge of autocare and in addition we each have a number of specialist skills which means we can provide a fully comprehensive service to all our customers – whatever their requirements.”
Manbat Batteries Ltd has announced a major restructuring of its Shrewsbury based senior management team. As a planned action during the second of Manbat’s five year rolling business planning, long-term managing director Roger Pemberton has moved to become the executive chairman, making way for Steve Sheppard to move from his position of sales director and take the reins as Manbat’s managing director.
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